Maryland lawmakers did not pass legislation to ban sweepstakes casinos before the state’s legislative session concluded this month, a respite for operators as they face ongoing regulatory headwinds nationwide.
A pair of bills to prohibit online dual-currency casino-style games passed the Maryland House with overwhelming bipartisan support. Neither bill gained a vote in the Senate, meaning the bills could not pass after the legislature adjourned in April.
Maryland’s gaming regulators had pushed lawmakers to pass the bills, which they argued where necessary tools to counter the hundreds of unlicensed sites operating the state. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission sent out dozens of cease-and-desist letters; officials estimated only around 25% of operators complied.
